Latest Ukraine war: Trump ‘thinks Kiev won’t win’ and demands Zelensky cedes ground

Defense Secretary John Healey said European troops are “ready to deploy” to Ukraine in the coming weeks if Vladimir Putin agrees to a ceasefire.

Responding to a question about whether troops could be deployed if a deal is reached in the next two weeks, Healey said, “If President Trump can make peace, we stand ready to help secure that peace.”

However, Ukrainians “should be the ones who decide how and what will be negotiated in any peace talks”, he said.

A Ukrainian drone strike has hit one of the world’s largest gas plants in Orenburg, Russia, affecting production in neighboring Kazakhstan.

Orenburg was forced to stop consuming gas from Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan’s Energy Ministry reported Sunday.

Karachaganak oil and gas production has fallen by 25 to 30 percent (between 25,000 and 28,000 metric tons), industry sources told Reuters on Monday.

Ukraine claimed responsibility for the gas plant attack, which took place at an oil refinery in the Samara region, about 1,700 km east of the Russian border.

Kiev has stepped up its attacks on Russian energy facilities since August in an effort to disrupt fuel supplies and financing to Moscow.

The sources said Orenburg could resume consuming some gas from Karachaganak on Monday, but they declined to comment on when supply levels would be restored to normal levels of 35,000-35,500.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has hailed his meeting with Donald Trump last Sunday as a “breakthrough” for progress on new air defense systems, despite reports that Trump insulted him at the White House.

The meeting ended with Trump calling for a ceasefire with the forces.

Zelensky on Monday described Trump’s message as “positive.”

Three sources confirmed that Trump’s meeting with Zelensky was tense and included repeated expletives.

“It was very bad,” one source said of the meeting. “The message was, ‘If Ukraine does not make a deal with Russia, your country will freeze and your country will be destroyed.’

Trump had previously said that Ukraine would have to give up the region in order to make peace, but it appears he has recently changed his opinion. Last month he described Russia as a “paper tiger” and said Ukraine could potentially win back all its land.

Donald Trump said the idea of ​​a Putin-Trump rail tunnel linking the US and Russia was “interesting” after it was proposed by a Russian envoy late Thursday.

But when asked about it in Washington on Friday, Zelensky said, “I’m not happy with the idea,” which drew laughter from the US.

The idea envisions a rail tunnel built beneath the Bering Strait, connecting the two countries, and allowing joint exploration of natural resources.

Putin’s investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev suggested the idea after Trump’s call with Putin on Thursday.

“Imagine connecting the US and Russia, the US and Afro-Eurasia with a Putin-Trump tunnel – a 70-mile link symbolizing unity,” he posted on Twitter.

He suggested that the project could be undertaken by Elon Musk’s Boring Company at a cost of $8 billion (£6 billion).

John Healey, the defense minister, will announce on Monday that Britain is drafting new powers that would allow troops to shoot down unidentified drones over military targets following a growing threat by Russia.

“Last month, we saw 19 drones cross the Polish border. A few days later, Russian jets violated Estonian airspace, while at the same time, Russia launched a concerted campaign to disrupt Moldova’s election,” Healey said, according to an excerpt of his speech shared with Reuters.

He will tell defense officials, “As we speak, we are developing new powers to shoot down unidentified drones over UK military sites – which will be enshrined in law through our Armed Forces Bill.”

ukraine can’t win our war with Russia And peace terms must be negotiated with the Kremlin, according to Britain’s most senior military officer.

Field Marshal Lord Richards said that Kyiv will not be able to drive Vladimir Putinsoldiers out ukraine without the help of nato Forces – that will not be involved on the ground.

Lord Richards, who was promoted to the UK military’s most senior “five star” rank earlier this year and led nato The military said Ukraine’s allies had failed Kiev during its troop surge in Afghanistan.

“What we have done in the case of Ukraine is encourage Ukraine to fight, but not give them the means to win,” East said. Chief of Defense Staff told The Independent’s podcast A world of trouble.

Belarus wants to “find consensus” with Ukraine after enduring diplomatic isolation for supporting Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

The head of Belarus’s State Security Committee, Ivan Turtel, said on Sunday that the country is ready for talks with Ukraine.

“Our President works as much as possible to stabilize the situation in the region, and we have managed to balance the interests of the parties with the tendency for tension to escalate in this extremely complex situation,” he said on Belarus One state TV.

“I believe that only through peaceful dialogue, by seeking compromises, we will be able to resolve this situation”.

He added that “a lot depends on the Ukrainian side.”

French President Emmanuel Macron has confirmed the news we previously reported that Volodymyr Zelensky was scheduled to attend a meeting of Ukraine’s allies in London on Friday, known as the “Coalition of the Willing.”

“This Friday, we will hold a meeting of the coalition of the willing in London – partly virtual and partly in person, and President Zelensky will be there,” Mr Macron said on Monday, speaking to journalists in Slovenia.

The so-called “coalition of the willing” – put together by France and Britain in February – has spent months negotiating at various levels to define plans for what Ukraine can contribute militarily and to prevent Russia from attacking again if a final ceasefire is reached.

Mr. Zelensky on Monday portrayed his meeting last week with President Trump as a success, leading to progress in acquiring new air defense systems, contrary to other reports that Trump had insulted him with obscene words at the White House.

For a man who prides himself on conducting diplomacy through intuition and personal relationships, Donald Trump’s sensitivity to Vladimir Putin has long puzzled observers — and caused extreme discomfort to those who stand to lose the most from it. It appears that he is not really able to see Vladimir Putin for what he is: a cunning, ruthless and brutal imperialist, and a threat to the West.

Some speculate that the Kremlin has “compromised” the explosives on the president – ​​but, if so, Mr Trump has signaled he does not care. Indeed, this possibility has not stopped Mr. Trump from occasionally standing up to the Russians.

If the US President’s priorities were more consistent, it might be easier for his aides to manage them. But, President Trump, despite his temperamental nature, never takes any decision regarding his Russian counterpart. He even openly says that he thinks his Russian counterparts may be messing with him. However, any such impatience is usually resolved by talking face-to-face or on the Kremlin’s hotline, and Mr Trump starts talking Kremlin up again. His special envoy, Steve Witkoff, looks equally hopelessly stunned.

Reading The Independent’s Full editorial here:

The Reuters news agency is reporting that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will travel to Brussels to attend the European Council summit on Thursday.

The EU says the summit is expected to discuss Ukraine and European defence, among other things.

Mr Zelensky is then expected to travel to London on Friday to attend a meeting of Kiev’s allies, known as a “coalition of the willing”.